A new video promoting Te Puke's town centre is the latest tool the town is using to show it is ready for the Tauranga Eastern Link to open next year.

Created by Te Puke Economic Development Group, the video – which is on YouTube as part of a Te Puke TV video series on the site – showcases 20-odd retailers promoting the town and its features.

Te Puke Economic Development Group managing director Mark Boyle is the presenter on a new online video showcasing Te Puke's town centre.

TPEDG managing director Mark Boyle, who is the video's presenter, says it is one of the many initiatives to promote the town ahead of the TEL opening.

The new roading highway system includes a bypass of the township which will see main through traffic no longer travel through the town centre.

'It's linked to that obviously; the diversion of heavy vehicle through-traffic away from the town will let Te Puke become a destination, and in particular to provide some improved ambience in the shopping precinct.”

Mark says the video sends strong messages about Te Puke.

'This video is highlighting the broad range of services we've got on offer in Te Puke.

'And it's also sending some pretty strong messages about Te Puke – it's proud, it's strong, resilient and very positive about its future.”

'There's a big overarching video online that we did about Te Puke last year and other stories – there's one on Kiwi 360, one on Comvita and this one is on the town centre, we're calling the country town experience.

'We've been widely quoted as saying the opening of the TEL poses more of an opportunity than anything else – as opposed to a threat – and I think this is a nice, warm video which talks about what we've got and how we're positive.”

'And it's tool to help encourage people to come and visit a typical country town with some old values.”

The video has been put on YouTube, sent out to TPEG contacts, but will also be linked to ongoing promotions of Te Puke and surrounding tourist attractions.

'It's the old saying: ‘one picture tells a thousand words' and a good high quality video spreads the message very quickly – we're going to link it to as many things as we can to promote Te Puke.”

TPEDG's next video, currently being made, focuses on lifestyles in Te Puke.

'That will feature people talking about why they lie here, how they lives their lives, multiculturalism an also the opportunities coming from living here.”